Refrigerator cabinet door combination handle and name plate support



Nov. 14, 1961 w. w. BELL, JR 3,008,253 REFRIGERATOR CABINET DOOR COMBINATION HANDLE AND NAME PLATE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 31, 1958 W v g INVENTOR. WILLIAM w. BELL,JR

ATTORNEY U d State Pat i Q.

- 3,008,253 REFRIGERATOR CABINET DOOR COIVIBINATION HANDLE AND NAME PLATE SUPPORT William W. Bell, Jr., Marcellus, N.Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 784,359

6 Claims. (Cl. 4010) This invention relates to cabinets, more particularly to domestic refrigerator and freezer cabinet doors, and means for providing handles and name plates on said doors.

Refrigerator and freezer cabinets are formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. These cabinets generally comprise a rectangular box having one face thereof open to provide access to a refrigerated compartment within the cabinet. A door is mounted over the opening to close same when not in use, and to permit access to the refrigerated compartment when desired. In commercial production of refrigerator and freezer cabinets, two basic types have been evolved. One type of refrigerator and freezer cabinet is provided with a door which in closed position is arranged in a horizontal plane. This is commonly denoted as the chest model. Another conventional cabinet has the door arranged in a vertical plane and is commonly designated as an upright model. Conventional refrigerator cabinets are generally provided with a decorative name plate to identify the manufacturer of the product. Since the door is arranged on the most accessible surface of the refrigerator cabinet, the name plate is generally secured to the door. Additionally a handle is provided to implement movement of the door from a closed to an open position.

As in all manufacturing processes, it would clearly be desirable to employ a single name plate structure, and a single handle structure, on as large a variety of products produced by any given manufacturer as possible. This would thereby minimize the" cost of manufacturing, in eliminating the need for distinct parts. Additionally it would be desirable to incorporate as many functions as possible in a single structure. V

It is with the above desiderat-a in mind, that the presbut means have been evolved, means providing a com bination handle and name plate support which permits utilization of the same structure on either a vertically mounted, or horizontally mounted door of a refrigerator cabinet, whereby the same structure may be utilized on either upright or chest type refrigerator-cabinets.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a combination handle and name plate support for use on a variety of refrigerator cabinets.

Another object of 'theinvention is to provide a com- I bination handle and name plate support which permits orientation of a name plate for maximum visibility regardless of the door in connection with which the handle and name plate support are mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination handle and name plate support which may be used on a variety of refrigerator cabinets, and in which any selected name plate may bereadily mounted.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent fromthe following disclosure and claims are achieved by provision of a combination handle and name plate supporting structure. The name plate sup port comprises a frame having a fixed retaining lip secured thereto. Opposite to said fixed retaining lip is a removable retaining lip held on the frame by means of a detachable element such as a clip, spring grommet, screws or the like. A handle is secured to the frame in a plane ofiset therefrom so that upon mounting of the frame on a refrigerator cabinet door, space will be pro- 3,008,253 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 f'ice vided between the handle and the door for insertion of the fingers. In use, the combination handle and name plate support is secured to a refrigerator cabinet door so that the handle will be most effective in implementing door opening. Thereafter the selected name plate is arranged in engagement with the fixed retaining lip, and oriented for maximum legibility. The removable retaining lip is then arranged in engagement with the frame and the name plate to secure same in position.

The specific structural details of a referred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning, will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an upright refrigerator cabinet having a vertical door provided with the novel combination handle and name plate support; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chest type refrigerator cabinet having a horizontal door provided with the novel combination handle and name plate support; and

FIG. 3 isan exploded perspective view of the combination handle and name plate supportwithout the name plate, showing the removable retaining lip in position prior to assembling; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the combination handle and name plate support on line 44 of FIG. 1; and I" FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view. through the combination handle and name plate support on line 5-5 of FIG.-4. Q

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals and letters in the various figures will be taken to'designate like parts. As best seen in FIG. 3, the novel combination handle andname plate supporting member 10 comprises a base frame 11, consisting of an L-shaped wall 14' and two side walls 18, and a handle 12 offset from the plane of said base frame 11.

The front wall 14' is provided with a fixed name plate edge retaining lip 14 formed along one side thereof, note FIG. 4. A cross member 15 having 'a fixed supporting ledge 16 thereon connects the two side walls 18. Formed along the opposite side thereof'and extending forwardly from the cross member 15 are twoside members 17 defining with the side wall 18 a supporting ledge 17.

A removable retaining member ZtlhaVingan inverted L-shaped cross section is provided for positioning with arm 21 extending over supporting ledge 16 to provide a removable name plate edge engaging lip and arm 22 serving to provide a guide surface and finishing facade adjacent the side wall of cross member 15. Fastening means in the form of pins 25 are provided on the lower surface of arm 21 of removable engaging member 20, which forms a removable name plate edge engaging lip. These pins 25jare adapted for insertion in spring grommets 26fmounted in appropriate sockets in cross member 1 5 so as'to provide a detachable mounting for retain ing member 20. Handle 12 comprises handle arms 30 formed integrally with sides 18 and extending away from the plane of base frame 11. Between the free end of handle arms 30 ahandle bar 31 is formed at a spaced distance from the plane along the bottom of the base frame 11.

A name plate 35 having dimensions suflicient to extend between walls 18' and beneath engaging fixed retaining lip 14 and arm 21 of removable engaging member 20 is provided. In the instant embodiment of the invention this will be a rectangular name plate which is positioned in assembled relationship as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to rest on edge ledges 17, and supporting ledge 16, beneath the fixed engaging lip 14 and the removable retainer 20.

to implement opening of either the vertical door; of an upright refrigerator cabinet or the horizontal door of the chest type refrigerator cabinet.

When assembled in the manner.

Where utilized to provide a handle and name plate support on the uprightcabinet U as illustrated in FIG. 1, the base plate 11 ofthe combination member 10 is securedto the door of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 1;.

.It is; mounted nearthe free end of the. door remote from the hinge (not seen in thedrawing) so as to. provide a satisfactory lever arm for opening of the door. Threaded ferrules 40 are P ovided to receive screws projecting through the door to secure the frame; 11 to the door. The handle bar 31 is arranged uppermost with respect to the base frame 11, as viewed in the drawing. Thereafter, name plate 35 oriented for maximum legibility'is arranged on edge ledges 17' and supporting ledge 16 beneath fixed engaging lip- 14, Upon forcing pins 25 into; grommets 26tlie removable engaging member 20 will serve to secure the name plate-in position;

Where it is desired to provide a handle and name plate on a chest type refrigerator cabinet C. as shown in FIG. 2 the combination handle and name plate support 10 is arranged on the front side wall of the chest door; as viewed in the drawing with the handle bar 31 arranged beneath base frame 11. Thereafter, as above described,

name plate 35 is oriented for maximumlegibility onedge ledges "17, supporting ledge 16,, beneath engaging iip 14, and removable engaging lip 20 is secured in position with respect to the base frame 11. Under these circumstances the same plate will be rotated through 180 from its positionas shown in FIGURE 1. 7 It will be observed that a unitary structure combi 'n-g the functions of a handle and name plate, support has been provided which may be utilized in combination with eitherthe vertical door of the upright refrigerator cabinet or thehorizontal door of the chest type refrigerator cabinet. Regardless. of the handle and name plate support orientation, the name plate, may be arranged for maxi mum legibility. This. fabrication of a single structure and name plate which may be utilized in a variety of combinations thus minimizingcosts, of production.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, andnot by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all; embodiments of the herein disw h, aidilang s. and ex endi 1 aw y f om a plane through the base of said frame; a handle bar between said arms; and a removable name platein said frame, whereby upon removal of said removable retaining lip said name plate may be positioned for maximum legibility regardless of the. orientation of said handle and name plate supporting member. i

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said removable retaining lip is L-shaped in cross section with one arm of the L-shaped -lip lying over the nameplate and the other arm forming a' finishing facade on the frame.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2. in which said-removable retaining lip is secured to theframe by pins on said lip inserted in spring grommets in said frame. 7

4. A handle assembly comprising a frame member and a name plate, said frame member having a fixed retaining lip retaining an edge portion of said name plate, said frame member further having a fixed supporting shoulder adjacent another edge portion of' said name plate;v a removable retaining member having a retaining arm, fastening'means serving to align said removable retaining member with said fixed supporting shoulder of said frame member in a position such that. said retaining overhangs said fixled supporting shoulder to form a second retaining lip-,said other edge portionofsaid-name plate being securely held in saidv frame. member by cooperation of said fixed. retaining lip and said second retaining lip with said name plate, said framemem-ber further having a handle arm projecting therefrom and. a handle. rigidly spaced from a plane through the base of said'frameso that said name platemay be secured in said frame member in a predetennincd desired, position depending on; the desired orientation of said frame member. 7 5.'A combination door, handle and. name, plate assembly whichcomprises a frame member adapted to contain a rigid name plate having edges, saidframememher having afixed retaining lip to. receive and retain an edge. portion' of said name: plate, a fixed, supporting shoulder adapted to underlie another edge portion, of said name plate, a removable retaining member, having aretaining arm thereon adapted to overlie said. other edgev portion of said name plate and said. fixed. supporting shoulder thereby forming another retaining lip to. hold saidfname. plate securely in a fixed predetermined p itiongfa teningmeans holding said removable retaining member in, position with, respect; to said framemembeli a dshau le. means closed. inventive concept withinthe scopeof the appended 7 rigidly'secured to said frame o, that said name. plate. may be secured in said frame. member, in. a predetermincdlder sired position dependingon the, desired orientationof said frame member.

6- An. as em y as efin dsi eli 5 wher in. said faste ingmeans oldi a dVr movabletetaihi gmemb r n -Position. with. r spe t to. said frame. member comprises a plurality of spaced spring grommets in a'fixed position with e pect to on of sa d m mbersfand. a corresponding 1y. spaoedplurality of, pins: secured to the other of, said edges, of said, edge ledges; handle. arms, formed integrally 6 members, fsaid pins being. inserted in said, spring grommete, to ho d sa d. name platein p sition References Cited in the file of this .patent UNITED. STATESv PATENTS: g .Hasselbring ..f June 9; 19.08

" ------UNITED STATES PIATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE O CORRECTION Patent No 3,008,253 V November 14 1961 William w. Bell, Jr. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 36, for "edges" read an edge Signed and sealed this. 17th day of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

